The Tacoma Historical Society will unveil a new exhibit this month that explores the historic significance of Tacoma’s bridges.
“Tacoma is known around the world for the disastrous collapse of the first Tacoma Narrows Bridge,” said Chris Erlich, guest curator of the new exhibit entitled Spanning Tacoma. “However, Tacoma also has a fascinating history of other bridges such as the World’s Longest Bicycle Bridge, the iconic Murray Morgan Bridge, and now the Bridge of Glass. Perhaps more importantly, Tacoma’s bridges have created vital connections, while adapting to changing transportation needs.”
Tacoma’s waterways and deep gulches presented challenges to an expanding city during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, according to Tacoma Historical Society officials. Tacoma’s bridges – designed for trains, trolleys, pedestrians, autos, and bicycles – linked industry to city, and neighborhood to neighborhood.
“We’re fortunate to have a copy of 1938-1939 bridge construction video footage donated to Tacoma Historical Society by John Woodworth,” said Tacoma Historical Society president Bill Baarsma, referring to construction of the first Tacoma Narrows Bridge approximately 75 years ago. “We were surprised to see images of workers trudging on and off the emerging bridge structure pushing handwheelbarrows filled with concrete for the bridge decking. The first Tacoma Narrows Bridge was built with intensive manual labor, truly a credit to our hard-working community.”
The Tacoma Historical Society will host a series of events in conjunction with the exhibit:
An opening reception for Spanning Tacoma will be held on Tues., July 14, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., at the Tacoma Historical Society Museum, located at 919 Pacific Ave., in downtown Tacoma. The exhibit will run through Nov. 28, 2015.
More information is available online at tacomahistory.org.
To read the Tacoma Daily Index’s complete and comprehensive coverage of the Tacoma Historical Society, click on the following links:
- Kingstree Studios, Tacoma Historical Society earn historic preservation awards (Tacoma Daily Index, June 1, 2015)
- Tacoma Historical Society: Author to discuss TCC’s 50th Anniversary (Tacoma Daily Index, Jan. 28, 2015)
- Tacoma Historical Society exhibit spotlights iconic Tacoma souvenirs (Tacoma Daily Index, Dec. 1, 2014)
- Tacoma Historical Society seeks vintage souvenirs for upcoming exhibit (Tacoma Daily Index, Nov. 7, 2014)
- Tacoma Hotel: Tacoma Historical Society exhibit spotlights lost landmark (Tacoma Daily Index, July 28, 2014)
- Tacoma History trivia night Aug. 8 at The Forum (Tacoma Daily Index, July 15, 2014)
- Salute Pierce County: Tacoma, Lakewood Historical Societies honor local military heritage (Tacoma Daily Index, July 7, 2014)
- Bike ride, walking tours, postcard project will mark historic preservation month in Tacoma (Tacoma Daily Index, April 21, 2014)
- 2 locals receive Tacoma Historical Society awards (Tacoma Daily Index, April 16, 2014)
- Volunteers needed for Tacoma Historical Society exhibit center (Tacoma Daily Index, April 9, 2014)
- Tacoma Historical Society to open exhibit center on Pacific Avenue (Tacoma Daily Index, Feb. 20, 2014)
- ‘Vanishing Tacoma’: New book highlights city’s changed urban landscape (Tacoma Daily Index, Nov. 14, 2013)
- Local sports focus of Tacoma Historical Society fundraiser Oct. 20 (Tacoma Daily Index, Oct. 7, 2013)
- 4 locals receive Tacoma Historical Society awards (Tacoma Daily Index, April 9, 2013)
- 3 locals receive Tacoma Historical Society awards (Tacoma Daily Index, April 11, 2012)
- Tacoma Historical Society to screen rare 1929 film (Tacoma Daily Index, April 9, 2012)
- Tacoma Historical Society: Author to discuss Puget Sound rescue boats Feb. 9 (Tacoma Daily Index, Feb. 7, 2012)
- Author to discuss Tacoma’s North Slope history (Tacoma Daily Index, Oct. 12, 2011)
- THS meeting April 12 features Harry P. Cain biographer (Tacoma Daily Index, April 5, 2010)
- Tacoma Historical Society will close downtown exhibit center (Tacoma Daily Index, Dec. 4, 2009)
- Building History: THS exhibit celebrates downtown Tacoma’s architectural icons (Tacoma Daily Index, July 16, 2009)
- New THS exhibit highlights downtown Tacoma architecture (Tacoma Daily Index, July 2, 2009)
- 2 receive Tacoma Historical Society Awards (Tacoma Daily Index, April 17, 2009)
- Ahoy History Buffs! (Tacoma Daily Index, Oct. 23, 2008)
- Donation will help preserve Tacoma Historical Society’s artifacts collection (Tacoma Daily Index, Aug. 26, 2008)
- City’s streetcar legacy will highlight Tacoma Historical Society fall fundraiser (Tacoma Daily Index, Aug. 18, 2008)
- Long Distance Memories: A lifelong, photographic tour through Tacoma’s passenger train history (Tacoma Daily Index, July 2, 2008)
- A bid for Tacoma’s historic stewardship (Tacoma Daily Index, Oct. 3, 2007)
- “Wish you were there . . . “ (Tacoma Daily Index, April 27, 2007)
